Answering all your funding questions

9th March 2020

CLEAR celebrate their award

9th March 2020

Community Links Engagement and Recovery (CLEAR) is a recover-focused mental health service. They offer a range of well-being activities and courses in Huddersfield and Dewsbury. We are pleased to announce that they are recipients of the Kirklees Volunteering Quality Award – celebrating their high quality volunteer offer.The Quality Award assessment panel were particularly impressed with how Volunteers were integrated into the organisation and had an opportunity to feed in their own ideas and develop their skills.

Seeing the bigger picture- Simran's Story

9th March 2020

Simran is a third year student at Huddersfield University studying psychology. She currently volunteers with the Denby Dale Centre as a Volunteer Dementia Support Assistant for their group in Aspley.

Having been a previous carer, Simran was keen to help others and also gain experience relevant to her degree. Simran carried out the easy online search on the Volunteering Kirklees website, and found a selection of roles.

Her role involves welcoming people to the session, serving refreshments, playing memory games and engaging participants in conversation. She also helps out at regular group trips, and has become a Welcome Mentor for Third Sector Leaders Kirklees. This means she supports asylum seekers and refugees who need help accessing services, and intergrating into the community.

Simran said: “I have always been passionate about helping people, and volunteering is helping me gain valuable experience to assist me in my career path.”

“Volunteering can widen your perspective on life. It can help you see the bigger picture and how many people need your help.

“I am encouraging my friends to get involved too. The roles are very flexible and I can fit them in around my studies. Supporting someone else can be really rewarding.”

Building confidence- Joe's Story

9th March 2020

Joe lives with a learning disability and autism, and has a real passion for social media and photography. He was referred to Community Learning Works by Carers Count, where he was volunteering, helping with social media and photographing events.

The staff at Carers Count felt that Joe had a lot of potential to further develop his skills, and gain new experiences, however he sometimes lacked confidence when it came to dealing with new situations.

Volunteering Kirklees and Community Learning Works (both projects managed by Third Sector Leaders), supported Joe to develop his skills and confidence through a variety of volunteering placements.

This included an exciting opportunity at Kirklees Local TV, where he had some fantastic opportunities to develop his skills in photography, film and communications skills. He also volunteered on a marketing project with Bagshaw Museum and Batley Smile, before going on to use his photography skills to volunteer at Oxfam Online and with a rugby club.

Alongside his interest in photography, Joe also wanted to build on his personal experience as a carer for his grandma who has Alzheimer’s and gain some voluntary work which lead to part time work. Volunteering Kirklees was again able to help with ideas and contacts for possible placements.

Joe has just gained a part-time weekend job filming rugby videos for Brighouse Rangers and doing their social media and YouTube channel.

During the week, he volunteers as a befriender with a dementia support group in Heckmondwike, run by the Denby Dale Centre,He is learning new skills all the time and becoming more confident dealing with new situations.

Last year, Joe won a Kirklees Council Adult Community Learning Award for his dedication to volunteering across many communities in Kirklees.

Joe said: “I’m very happy about the weekend job and I will still be looking for some part-time work during the week. I will also be doing a Memory Walk to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society later this year.”

FREE Wellbeing Taster Sessions & Courses For Your Community Group

3rd March 2020

Local independent mental health charity, S2R, can run free wellbeing or nature roadshows for your group

S2R, working with our partners at Community plus and Community Learning works are now able to offer some special FREE sessions to improve the wellbeing of your community groups at your community venue.

Wellbeing Roadshow: This 5 week course explores some practical techniques that help you understand and improve your wellbeing. Helping you deal with things like stress, poor sleep and the little knocks that life can bring.

Natures Roadshow Outdoor: taster sessions and longer courses. Our Great Outdoors Project has a long track record in helping people discover the wellbeing benefits of Nature and being outdoors. We can give you a one off personalised taster session tailored to your needs where we can explore activities like outdoor cooking, planting. Upcycling and walking to name a few. This might lead you to a longer programme of activities with us.

Download a copy of Your Wellbeing Your Community flyers

To find out more, contact jason@s2r.org.uk

Image attributes: stevepb via Pixabay

Learn how to write your own business plans

3rd March 2020

One Community Foundation for Kirklees will be running a workshop to help local charities, community groups, CIC’s and social enterprises write their own business plans.

The workshop will be explore business model canvases, and how to understand and implement them. It will also help you how to identify the customers/beneficiaries you serve and how your charity makes money.

Kirklees Council Place Partnership Funding to Support Good Mental Health in Communities

2nd March 2020

7 Place Partnerships have been formed between neighbouring wards in Kirklees & priorities such as improving outcomes for children, families and young people or for people experiencing social isolation and loneliness, have been identified for each partnership, with funding available for projects that address these issues.

Each Partnership has a Lead Councillor, and each has it’s own pot of funding (from a total pot of £1 million for mental health support and £400,000 for tackling domestic abuse).

To find out more, you can join us at the next TSL Kirklees Members’ Meeting or you can attend one of the Place Partnership workshops in your local area.  

One has already taken place in Almondbury, Newsome and Dalton wards, and the next one is due to take place in Huddersfield for the Huddersfield Central, Huddersfield North, Colne Valley & Huddersfield Rural wards with lead Councillors from each of those areas.

Workshop for Huddersfield Central, North, Rural & Colne Valley:

Tuesday 17th March at 4-7 pm in the Conference Room, The Media Centre, 7 Northumberland Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1RL

There is approximately £570k one-off funding available across this area for a range of work that will improve outcomes for children, families and young people, & older people experiencing social isolation and loneliness.

Councillors have been talking to local community organisations, services, schools and residents to find out about local provision, what is working well, what are the gaps and what more could be done by working together to make a difference and join up the work.

As well as services and commissioners we want to hear from larger community organisations who support this agenda.  You might have already been invited to a drop in to look at activity in one area.  We now want to look at activity across Huddersfield and Kirklees.

At the workshop we want to  –

–             share the information gathered so far with you as service managers and commissioners

–             find out what you are already planning and delivering in these areas

–             share the lived in experiences and insights of local residents

–             ask what you think works well and where we could add value using the funding available to invest in activity, skills, resources or capacity in local communities (this could vary across the partnership areas) or by investing in resources that are available across the Huddersfield areas or Kirklees wide such as access to information and support

Please RSVP by 9th March to let us know if you can attend the workshop – our email and phone contacts are below.

An agenda with timings will be circulated in advance.  The workshop itself will last about 2 hours with the additional time available for any area specific discussion.

Claire.howe@kirklees.gov.uk Active Citizens & Places Officer, Active Citizens & Places Team, The Democracy Service, 1st Floor North, Civic Centre 3, High Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2TG Tel 07812 106782    Switchboard: 01484 221000

Cheryl.reid@kirklees.gov.uk  Active Citizens & Places Officer, Active Citizens & Places Team, The Democracy Service, 1st Floor North, Civic Centre 3, High Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2TG Tel 07528 252074  Switchboard: 01484 221000

Julie.mcdowell@kirklees.gov.uk Active Citizens & Places Officer, Active Citizens & Places Team, The Democracy Service, 1st Floor North, Civic Centre 3, High Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2TG Tel: 07528 252203 Switchboard: 01484 221000

Image attributes: Free-Photos via Pixabay

Networking for members

2nd March 2020

Kirklees Youth Alliance (KYA) will be running a series of network meetings, to inform members about what to expect when the charity becomes a CIO organisation.

A speaker from the charity Onside, will be discussing the proposed plans for two new Youth Zones, and how young people themselves can get involved in the project.

Information regarding funding from Thriving Kirklees partnership and CLW (Community Learning Works) will also be given at the event.

To book your place, click on the links below:

• Huddersfield: 9th March
• Colne Valley: 10th March
• Dearne Valley: 13th March
• Batley and Spen: 16th March
• Holme Valley: 16th March
• Dewsbury: 17th March

Refugees welcome in Kirklees

2nd March 2020

Kirklees Migration Team will be running a session to help make Kirklees a welcoming place for asylum seekers and refugees.

Frontline workers who work with asylum seekers and refugees on a day-to-day basis will have the opportunity to learn how to offer support to people who have recently migrated to the UK.

There will also be information on how people can improve their English, as well as how your role can have an impact on the success of the #KirkleesWelcomes programme.

There will be a chance to meet the #KW team and learn about the work that is going on in the area.

To book, click on one of the links below and use the password #KW2020

Dates for the events are:

• Huddersfield – Tuesday 10 March
• Huddersfield – Wednesday 11 March

Image attributes: Zachtleven via Pixabay

Raising awareness about the effects of gambling

2nd March 2020

S2R Create Space, in partnership with the Citizen’s Advice Calderdale will be running a workshop to raise awareness about the effects of gambling.

It will be focusing on gambling-related harms, and the impact they have on individuals, their families and society as a whole.

The event will take place 16th March at S2R Create Space, 5-7 Brook St, Huddersfield, HD1 1EB.

Entry is free, but booking is required. To book contact S2R Create Space on 01484 539531, or email contact@s2r.org.uk

Image attributes: 955169 via Pixabay

How Being a Member of TSL Kirklees Can Benefit Your Organisation: Carers Trust Mid Yorkshire Gets £30k Funding!

2nd March 2020

Callum Bennett from West Yorkshire and Harrogate Excellence Centre came to speak at the TSL Kirklees Members’ Meeting in December 2019.  He was there to tell us about an £800,000 funding pot to help third sector organisations recruit for hard to fill roles or upskill current employees through apprenticeships.  The funding is specifically for health and social care apprenticeships (but in the broadest sense) and is open to any organisation offering some sort of activity that improves wellbeing.

After the meeting Carers Trust Mid Yorkshire, a leading charity provider of support for carers and the people that they care for, contacted him to say that they had 8 healthcare workers who they’d like to up skill.  However, WYHEC were able to approve £30k of funding to help 10 members of staff gain additional qualifications to help them progress in their careers.

“As a charity, we do not have the funding available to fund recognised Health & Social Care qualifications. The opportunity that WYHEC has provided will support staff to develop their skills and knowledge which will subsequently benefit the families we support.”
Amanda Hawrot, Human Recourses Administrator, Carers Trust Mid Yorkshire

“The opportunity to complete the Senior Healthcare Support Worker course is a great way for me to extend and build on the knowledge I already have.”
Carole Wood, Carer Support Worker and Apprentice, Carers Trust Mid Yorkshire

Read the full WYHEC case study

Book to come to the next Members’ Meeting: Focus on Funding 

Find out more about becoming a member of TSL Kirklees

Read the notes of the last Members’ Meeting

See the presentation about funding for apprenticeships

Words in Mind Celebrates The Healing Power of Words with Huddersfield Literature Festival

2nd March 2020

Words in Mind and Huddersfield Literature Festival have commissioned a new animated short film as part of a project for this year’s Festival, called The Creative Mind.

The three-minute film has been created by award-winning local company, Fettle Animation to explore ideas around creativity and mental wellbeing, and includes contributions from leading authors and poets such as Kit de Waal, Joanne Harris, Jackie Kay, Lisa Luxx, Nikesh Shukla and Lemn Sissay.  It was premiered at the HLF2020 Preview, which took place on Tuesday 25 February at Heritage Quay at the University of Huddersfield.

Elaine Duffy, Project Co-ordinator for Words in Mind said, “We are please to be partnering with the festival for the second year running, showcasing the healing value of reading and writing for mental health and well-being. Last year we ran a full day conference introducing people to the idea of bibliotherapy with 2 of the UK’s leading researchers and Alan Johnson as keynote speaker. This year we are offering two taster sessions run by 2 of the Words in Mind volunteers who help facilitate some of the 47 groups that we run across Kirklees. They will be exploring how the process of writing can improve mood and health. And we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work with award-winning local animation company, Fettle, and such well-known names from the world of literature who’ve talked about their experiences of emotional health and writing.”

Book a free bibliotherapy taster session at Huddersfield Literature Festival on 21st March at the Lawrence Batley Theatre or 24th March at Huddersfield University.

Festival Director, Michelle Hodgson, said: “Our Festival audiences often tell us about the positive and long-term benefits they experience from listening to writers and poets speak, or taking part in workshops, from creative writing to Bibliotherapy. The Creative Mind project not only features wonderful contributions from major writers and poets exploring creativity and mental wellbeing, but also brings together a number of organisations within the town, in a spirit of collaboration and co-operation.”

The Creative Mind project has also received support from Woven Festival: a biennial celebration of innovation in textiles across Kirklees, and has commissioned a banner from the One World Craft Group – a group for refugees and local people to get together and share ideas, skills and culture to create beautiful craft work.  The group are also sharing their refugee stories as part of the festival.

Words in Mind is a 3-year National Lottery funded project run by TSL Kirklees, which helps local community groups, care homes, hospitals, and libraries work with volunteers to host therapeutic reading groups. These groups use extracts from all kinds of books, poetry and writing to help people connect with memories and emotions and promote good mental health, using a process called creative bibliotherapy.  The project has just completed its 2nd year.

Get in touch to find out more or visit the Words in Mind page on our website.

Giving back to local charities

2nd March 2020

Lloyds Bank have set up the Lloyds Bank Foundation (LBF) to help small charities achieve their goals.

Charities with an annual income of £25,000 to £1 million, with a proven track record of helping people, can receive funds based on their primary needs.

LBF partners with small charities across the country, and provides long-term funding, developmental support and influential policies. This helps charities to become more sustainable, so they can focus on their aims.

Due to their superior local knowledge, small charities play a vital role in helping their communities. However, due to a lack of funding, their work often gets ignored, or they are forced to make cutbacks.

LBF aims to bridge that gap, and offer local charities the funding that they desperately need.

To find out more about how to apply for funding, visit www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/we-fund

Image attributes: StockSnap via Pixabay

New Safeguarding Network & Training - Join Now

27th February 2020

New Safeguarding Network

We are setting up an email group for safeguarding leads in third sector organisations. There will be no commitment to attend any meetings it will just be an email group where we can share any updates, training opportunities and general queries.

If you have someone in your organisation who would like to join this group please ask them to email their contact details to: becky@tslkirklees.org.uk

Free Adult Safeguarding Basic Awareness Training

Wednesday 4th March, 10 am to 12pm

TSL Kirklees, 12 New Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2AR

Becky will be delivering Adult Safeguarding Basic Awareness training for some of our volunteers, and she’s happy for staff or volunteers from other local third sector organisations to come and take part.

To book a place, email: becky@tslkirklees.org.uk

Becky can also come out to your organisation and deliver training for your group.  Get in touch to find out more.

Applications for Huddersfield Soup is open!

26th February 2020

Huddersfield Soup is back for another year and the panel are ready to hear your ideas!

If you live in Huddersfield, own a business or are part of an organisation, or project, submit your ideas and you could receive funding of up to £500!

To take part, or to nominate someone you know, click here to fill out an application form.

Deadline for all applications is Sunday 15th March at 1pm.

Image attributes: StartupStockPhotos via Pixabay

Making Kirklees Safer

26th February 2020

West Yorkshire Police will be launching a new initiative to help reduce and tackle violent crime in the area. 

Launch of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit

0930-1300
Thursday 5 March 2020
Bridge Community Church, Rider Street, Burmantofts, Leeds, LS9 7BQ

Following a successful bid from the Home Office, the £3.37m Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) takes a fundamentally different approach to violence reduction.

It works by getting the public sector and communities to act together to help reduce violence with early intervention, prevention, education and partnership working.

The event will bring together specialists from health, police, local government and education sectors to see the current projects and initiatives.

Keynote speakers include John Robins, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, and Helen Christmas, from Public Health England.

To register your interest for the event please email vru@westyorkshire.pcc.pnn.gov.uk

Image attributes: dagmarbendel via Pixabay

Sharing food and stories

25th February 2020

Mosques in Kirklees are being encouraged to take part in the national ‘Taste Ramadhan’ and ‘Big Iftar’ initiatives, to help bring the diverse community together. 

People will have the opportunity to share food and learn more about the month of Ramadhan. It is also a valuable time to ask questions and share your experiences with others.

Both events will take place 2nd and 3rd May this year. If you are interested in organising either events at your local mosque, visit  www.tasteramadan.co.uk/ and/or www.thebigiftar.org/resources/

Image attributes: EleganceThika via Pixabay

Networking for the community

25th February 2020

Batley Bulldogs will be holding their monthly Bulldogs Networking event, and bringing together businesses, sports groups and communities.

Lou Addison, Regional Fundraiser at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice will be speaking at the event, and refreshments will be provided.

The event will take place at PPG Birstall on 28th February. To book your place, email adrian@lpda.co.uk

Image attributes: Cozendo via Pixabay